Work-support for shoe machinery.



L'GOULDBOURN & R. B. WQODCOCK.

WORKSUPPORT-FOR SHOE MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I9. 1912.

1,147,162. Patented July 20, 1915.

JOSEPH GOULDBOURN AND REGINALD BOYD WOODCOCK, 0F LEICESTER, ENGLAND,

ASSIGNORS TO UNITED SHOE'MACHINERY' COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

WORK-SUPPORT FOR SHOE MACHINERY.

memes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented July 20, 1915.

Application filed October 19, 1912. Serial No. 726,702.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JosnrH GOULD- BOURN and REGINALD B. WOODCOCK, residing at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, have invented certain Improvements in VVork- Supports for Shoe Machinery, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures. This invention relates to work supports for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes and more particularly to work supports for use in machines in which the last is subjected to heavy pressure; such machines for examplevas are employed for attaching heels. It is important in these machines to provide a support of such construction as to afford an adequate surface to support the last against the pressure which is brought upon it in the operation of the machine and which can also automatically adjust itself to accommodate variations in the shapes of different lasts. A support of this kind is a necessity also to enable the machine to operate upon lasts whichIhave become damaged in long use, by having one side of the crown broken down, for example.

To this end a feature of the present in vention consists in the provision of a work support which includes a plate or block for the crown of a lastso. mounted that it-can be rocked about an axis extending transversely of the last to permit the crown thereof to take up. any position which is necessary in order to bring the heel seat of the shoe into the proper position to be op: erated upon. 1 I

As herein shown the last block, in addr tion to its angular rocking movement, is so mounted as to be capable of an adjusting movement of translation in the same general direction as the rocking movement.

This construction permits a wide range of adjustment of the work so that an improper location of the last pin hole in the last may be compensated for as well as an improper'or defective slope in. the crown surface of the last.

Anotherfeature of thein'vention consists in the provision of an improved last pin of such construction that the last canbe placed thereon or removed more readily thanhere tofore and also held more firmly in place than has been possible in prior constructions. To this end there is provided a last pin which is formed in a plurality of parts arranged for a relative movement so that the effective diameter of the pin may be reduced when the last is .to be removed or placed upon it and increased to securely hold the last after it has been placed upon the pin.

i The invention further contemplates'the provision of automatic means arranged to effect a contracting movement of the parts of the last pin when the work support is moved into its last receiving position and to increase or expand the diameter of the pin when the work support is moved into its operative position in the machine. An important advantage of this feature is that the operator may slide the last upon the last pm or remove it with facility, and neverthe-' less the last will be securely and tightly held by the pin as soon as the work support is moved out of its work receiving position and during the operation of the machine.

Still another feature of the invention con sists in the provision of means for returning the adjustable last block to a central or initial position automatically when the work support is moved to last receiving position. As herein shown, this operation is effected by the same means which controls the expansion orcontraction of the last pin. This arrangement is advantageous because it simplifies the construction of the work support, but it would not be without the scope ofthe invention to provide independent means for centering the last block and for controlling the expansion of the lastrpin. It is believed that heretofore means responsive to the movement of a work support have never been employed to center a last block and thisconstruction is broadly new.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of an embodiment thereof adapted for use in a heeling machine in which. the last jack is pendent. This embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation partly in section; Fig. 2 is a View, also partly in section, at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of. a

work support having a solid last pin.

As herein shown the novel work support of this invention is carried by the vertically movable plunger 2 of a heeling machine such as that disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 722,270, filed September 25, 1912. At its lower end the plunger 2 is provided with an extension 4 in which is formed a horizontal guideway for a sliding plate 6. The extension 4 at its forward end is provided with a lug through which extends an adjusting screw 8 threaded into the frontend of the slide 6; The screw 8 is prevented from moving longitudinally by fixed collars on each side of the lug and by turningthis screw the plate and the parts carried thereby may be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly in the machine and in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the last carried by the support. The plate 4 has a centrally perforated lug 10 through which extends the pivot or spindle 12 about which the jack post 14 is arranged to swing. The spindle in this case is fast in the lug 10 and projects on each side thereof through the forked end of the ack post.

In order to reduce the pressure upon the spindle 12 in the operation of the machine the arms constituting the fork of the jack post are formed with convex surfaces at their upper ends and are arranged in sliding contact with corresponding concave recesses formed in the under side of the plate 4.

At its lower end the jack post 14 is provided with a transversely extending dovetailed guideway in which is mounted a block 16, which will be referred to hereinafter as the intermediate block. In the lower surface of the intermediate block 16 is formed another transversely extending guideway but instead of being straight, as is the guideway first mentioned, this guideway is in the form of an arc of a circle. Both these guideways extend in the same general direction; namely, transversely of the last. In the curved guideway, of which the concave surface is toward the last, the

last block 18 is arranged to swivel so that it may be canted on one side or the other of its normal central position to compensate for variations in the angular relation of the heel seat and the crown of'the last.

The last pin 20 is mounted in the last block 18 and comprises two separable sections having laterally projecting journal portions 22 disposed in sockets. formed partly in the last block 18 and partly in a cover plate 24 which is screwed into a recess formed in the outer surface of the last block. The sections of the last pin are in this manner so mounted that their outer ends may be spread apart into engagement with the sides of the last pin hole and thereby engage the last more firmly than'has been possible heretofore. The adjacent or contacting faces of the last pin sections are grooved longitudinally to receive a leaf or C-spring 26 which tends normally to maintain the two sections in their separated or expanded position. The outer ends of the spring enter holes in the last pin sections so that there is no liability of the spring becoming displaced. The upper or inner end of each section of the last pin is beveled or provided with an inclined surface 28 which together form a V-shaped notch. Into this notch projects the beveled lower end of'a plunger 30 which is arranged for longitudinal movement in a bore formed in the center'of the jack post 14. When the plunger 30 is moved downwardly its wedgeshaped end acts upon the beveled ends of the sections of the last pin to spread them and consequently to close together their outer ends and so contract the last pin.

The plunger 30 is arranged to move'responsively to the movement of the jack post about its spindle 12. To this end a stationary cam 32 is rigidly secured to the lower end of the lug 10 on the plate 4 and is so shaped that when the jack post 14 is swung outwardly or toward the left in Fig.

plunger 30 in the jack post is limited by a transverse pin 38 which'passes through a slot in the plunger. i

For the convenience of the operator it is desirable to provide means for temporarily holding the jack post in its outer or last receiving position. As herein shown this is effected by means of a detent which comprises a leaf spring 40 secured by means of the screw 42 to the rear side of the jack post and having a V-shaped portion formed in its upper end. This portion of the spring 40 is adapted to fit into a notch 44 formed'in the rear end of the cam piece 32. lVith the jack post in its forward position it requires merely a slight pressure to force the detent spring 40 out of its notch whereupon the jack post is entirely free to be moved inwardly to its operative position.

As has been intimated already, the pluning this result will be apparent'from Fig. 2 1

in which it will be noted that the wedgeshaped end of the plunger by engaging the inclined surfaces 28 of the last pin sections tends to center these sections and therefore the parts to which they are connected. Sufficient clearance or lost motion to permit the last block and pin to be moved or canted to any position required in practice is provided between the wedge-end of the plunger 30 and the V-shaped notch formed by the sections of the last pin.

The operation of the work support constructed as hereinbefore outlined is as follows: When it is desired to place a last upon the last pin 20 of the jack post the operator swings the post from its operative or heel attaching position about the spindle 12 until it is held by the detent 40 in its forward position, as indicated by the dotanddash line in Fig. 1. As the jack post is moved from its operative position to the last receiving position the projecting part of the stationary cam 82 engages the upper end of the plunger 30 and moves it against the action of its spring 3st to cause the wedge shaped lower end of the plunger to engage the V-shaped notch formed between the upper ends of the last pin sections so as to force the outer ends of these sections together in order to enable the operator easily to slip the last upon the pin. After the last has been placed upon the pin the ack post is swung inwardly and the end of the plunger 30 carried off the projecting part of the stationary cam. hen the jack post has been moved sufliciently for this to occur the spring 34 lifts the plunger and removes its wedge-shaped end from between the ends of the last pin sections. This permits the spring 26 located between the'sections of the last pin to force the outer ends of the sections apart and into engagement with the sides of the last pin hole and thereby hold the last securely on the'pin. The last is then adjusted laterally and canted so as to bring it into the correct relationship with the heel which is to be attached before the pressure is applied to the work to force the heel and shoe together.

Many features ,ofthe embodied in a work support having no last pin at all or in a work supporthaving a solid or non-expansible last pin. Qne form of the latter construction is illustrated in Fig.3. In the support therein shown the lower end of the jack post 14 is provided with a straight transversely disposed clovetailed guideway in which, is adjustably mounted an intermediate block 50. The block 50 in turn is provided in its lower surface with a transverse curved guideway for the last block 54. A solid last pin 56 is inserted in the last block 54 and held in place by a screw or bolt 58 threaded through block 50 will limit invention may be sliding movement by a pin 52 which is secured in the lower end of the jack post 14:

and projects into an opening 53 in the block 50. When the block 50 is moved in the guideway in either direction the engagement of one side of the opening 53 with the pin 52 will prevent its further movement. The last pin 56 is also provided with a projection 57 at its upper end which projection by engaging the sides of the opening 53 inthe the canting movement of the last block and last pin in both directions.

Having thus described our invention,

what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A device of the class described having, in combination, a frame carrying post, a last block so connected to the post that it may be rocked transversely of the last and also moved in a straight path transversely of the last, and means for adjusting the position of the post in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the last.

2. A device of the class described having, in combination, a last block having a pin mounted therein and being adjustable in a rectilinear path and alsoin a curved path both disposed transversely to a last on the pin, and means for adjusting the block in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the last.

3. A device of the class described having, in combinatioma post having a rectilinear guideway formed in its end, an intermediate block adjustable in the guideway and having a curved guideway extending in the same general direction as the guideway in the post, a last block adjustable in the curved guideway of the intermediate block, and a centrally disposed spindle for limiting the movement of the intermediate block and also of the last block.

4. A last support, comprising a block for engaging the crown of the last which is free to rock laterally of the last so as to adjust itself automatically and distribute the supporting pressure on the surface of the crown, and means for constraining it from movement longitudinally of the last.

5. A device of the class described, having in combination, an adjustable last block, a two part last pin bodily movable with the last block, and means for yieldingly separating the parts of the pin.

6. A device of the class described comprising a last support movable into and out of operative position, and an expansible last pin arranged to be expanded when the support is moved into operative position and to be freely adjustable when expanded.

7 A device of the class described comprising a last support movable into and out of operative position, an adjustable last pin carrier, an expansible last pin constructed and arranged to be contracted when the support is moved out of operative position, and means for locking and unlocking the carrier according to the position of the suport. P 8. A device of the class described comprising a last support movable into and out of operative position, a last block thereon adjustable in opposite directions from a predetermined position, and means for moving the last block into said predetermined position when the support is moved out of operative position.

9. A device of prising a last support the class described commovable to and from last receiving position, a last block thereon adjustable transversely in opposite directions from an initial position, and means for automatically returning the last block to said initial position when the support is moved into last receiving position.

10. A device of the class described comprising a last support movable to and from last receiving position, an expansible last pin adjustably mounted thereon, and means constructed and arranged for automatically returning the pin to an initial position and also for contracting it when the support is moved into last receiving position.

11. A device of the class described comprising a last support movable to and from last receiving position, an adjustable last block mountedthereon, and means arranged automatically to return the block to a predetermined initial position when the support is moved into last receiving position.

12. A device of the class described comprising a last support movable to and from last receiving position, an adjustable last block mounted thereon, and means for holding the last block in a central position until the support distance from last receiving position and then releasing the last block so that it may be adjusted.

13. A device of the class described comprising a last support movable to and from last receiving position, an expansible last pin thereon, and means, responsive to the movement of the last support, for controlling the expansion of the last pin, said means being arranged to leave the last pin free for adjustment after it has been expanded.

14L. A device of the class described comprising a last support movable about a transverse axis to and from last receiving position, a last pin comprising laterally sep- Copies of this patent may be obtained for of the support for centering has been moved a predetermined arable sections, and means responsive to the movement of the last support about its axis for controlling the separation of the last pin sections, said means being arranged to leave the last pin free for adjustment after it has been expanded. V

15. A device of the class described comprising a pivotally mounted jack post carrying an expansible last pin, and means for controlling the expansion of the last pin arranged to be moved longitudinally of the jack post when the latter is swung on its pivot and to leave the last pin free for adjustment when expanded.

16. A device of the class described comprising a pivotally mounted jack post carrying an expansible last pin, a stationary cam, and a plunger for controlling the expansion of the last pin carried by the jack post and arranged to be actuated by the cam.

17. A device of the class described comprising a pivotally mounted jack post carrying at its free end anexpansible last pin, a plunger slidably mounted within the jack post, a spring for moving the plunger in one direction, and a cam moving the plunger in the other direction.

18. A device of the class described comprising a last support movable to and from last. receiving position, an adjustable and expansible last pin mounted thereon, and a single device responsible to the movement the last pin and contracting 1t.-

19. A device of the class described comprising a last support havinga last pin composed of separable sections pivotally mounted between their ends, the inner ends of the sections having oppositely disposed beveled surfaces forming a V-shaped notch, and a wedge-shaped member movable into said V- shaped notch to separate the inner ends of the last pin sections.

20. A device of the class described comprising a jack post, a last block adjustably retained upon the post, and an expansible last pin projecting from the block and having its inner end contained within the block,

, thereby permitting bodily adjustment of the block on the post. v

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH GOULDBOURN. REGINALD BOYD WOODCOCK.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK WiLLIA WORTH, Ricrni m ERNEs'r GETLIFFE.

Washington, D. G.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,147,162, granted July 20,

1915, upon the application of Joseph Gouldbourn and Reginald Boyd Woodcock, of

Leicester, England, for an improvement in Work-Supports for Shoe Machinery, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 86, claim 17, after the Word cam insert the word for; same page, line 92,

claim 18, for the Word responsible read responsive; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of February, A. D., 1916.

[SEAL] R. F. VVHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. Cl. 12-126. 

